Packaging

ABSTRACT

Packaging for flat cuboid objects ( 2 ), e.g. laptops or notebooks, characterized in that the packaging ( 10 ) is formed by two substantially identical packaging frame parts ( 1 ) which are assembled by turning them with respect to each other through 180° both about a vertical and a horizontal axis, and whose longitudinal sides ( 3   a,    3   b ) and front sides ( 4   a,    4   b ) are notched in a resilient fashion towards the inside to surround the inserted object ( 2 ) in a shock-absorbing fashion.

The invention concerns a packaging for flat cuboid objects, such as laptops or notebooks, which is formed by two substantially identical parts which are assembled by turning them with respect to each other through 180° both about a vertical and a horizontal axis, and each comprise two longitudinal side parts and two front side parts.

A packaging of this type is disclosed in DE 298 16 024 U1. It is formed by two identical styrofoam half shells, each of which has one recess and together enclose an object. However, this document does not offer any measure to accommodate objects of different sizes in a resilient and shock-absorbing fashion.

DE 298 08 024 U1 discloses a flexible cushioning part whose side parts are formed to be variable both in the longitudinal and transverse directions through wedge-shaped cuts to suit different packaging sizes. An object can be resiliently accommodated only in the longitudinal and transverse directions, but not in all directions. Moreover, this part does not encompass an object from all sides.

WO 02/059014 A1 discloses a packaging having longitudinal side parts which can be stretched in only one direction. DE 83 18 721.9 U discloses a frame-like packaging aid with insertable catches as holding means for larger parts to transport devices, which, however, are not formed or suited to receive and encompass the devices from all sides.

It is the underlying purpose of the invention to design a packaging of the above-mentioned type in such a fashion that it can flexibly accommodate an object in all three coordinate directions and can be adjusted to different sizes. The packaging shall be suited, in particular, for notebooks and/or laptops of a size between 15 and 17 inches, and absorb shocks that occur during handling or transport with good damping.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that the longitudinal side parts and front side parts form a frame that is suited to receive and surround the objects along all four sides in a shock-absorbing fashion, and are resiliently designed with notches extending towards the inside of the frame, and that moreover, pressure fingers are provided on the longitudinal side parts and/or the front side parts, which exert pressure on one and/or both of the two-sided large surfaces of the object in a resilient and shock-absorbing fashion when they are supported on the contact surfaces of the packaging frame parts.

The longitudinal side parts and front side parts are notched to the inside like a flat arc, thereby providing elastically resilient accommodation of flat objects, in particular, laptops or notebooks of different possible sizes, with a dimensional variability of 10 to 20%. The pressure fingers, which are formed on the longitudinal side parts and/or the front side parts, also ensure cushioning in the z direction, while the frame is formed in a simple and material-saving fashion.

The invention also concerns different advantageous further developments which are defined in the dependent claims.

One embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the enclosed drawing.

FIG. 1 shows two identical packaging frame parts 1, which are offset with respect to each other horizontally and vertically through 180° and form a packaging 10 (FIG. 5) when they are assembled;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a packaging frame part 1;

FIG. 3 shows a section along line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a side part of the packaging frame part 1 in the direction of the arrows IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows two packaging frame parts 1 which, based on the view of FIG. 1, are put together to form a packaging 10 that accommodates an object 2;

FIG. 6 shows a view like FIG. 5 but with added container 51;

FIG. 7 shows a view like FIG. 6, but in a covering box 50.

FIG. 1 shows two identical packaging frame parts 1 which are rotated with respect to each other through 180° in a vertical and horizontal direction. The construction of such-a packaging frame, which is referred to below, is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 through 4. By joining the two packaging frame parts (shown in FIG. 5), a frame-like packaging 10 is formed (FIG. 5), which can accommodate an object 2 having the shape of a flat cuboid, e.g. a notebook or a laptop. Due to its special design, this packaging 10 is elastic in all three coordinate directions and can therefore be adjusted to different sizes of an object 2, e.g. laptops or notebooks, of dimensions between 15 inches and 17 inches with weights between 2.8 to 4.3 kg.

In accordance with FIG. 2, a packaging frame part 1 has two longitudinal side parts 3 a and 3 b and two front side parts 4 a and 4 b, which are connected to each other and form a substantially rectangular frame. The front side parts 4 a, 4 b are curved towards the inside of the rectangle 3 a, 3 b, like a notch or like a flat arc. The packaging frame parts 1 are produced from polypropylene. Due to the elasticity of this material and the shape, the longitudinal side parts and the front side parts can be elastically adjusted to the different lengths and/or widths of the objects 2 they accommodate, and can nevertheless accept them with a certain pressure, such that an object of this type is received in a resilient and thereby shock-absorbing fashion. This elasticity and shock-absorbing accommodation also provides good damping of the objects in case of shocks, e.g. during transport or handling. When the objects are accommodated, the illustrated separation a between the longitudinal side parts 3 a, 3 b and the illustrated distance b between the front side parts 3 and 4 a, 4 b may then be larger by 10 to 20% compared to the illustrated position, thereby still ensuring the desired shock-absorbing, cushioning effect.

The longitudinal side parts 3 a, 3 b and the front side parts 4 a, 4 b are connected to each other at their connecting areas 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d with a geometrical shape that acts as a hinge or a joint, such that, when one side part is bent, the neighboring side parts only bend to an insignificant degree. The central areas of the side parts can then be bent substantially independently of the neighboring side parts. The geometrical shape of the connecting areas 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, which represents the joint or hinge, is generated by notches 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, 6 d.

The cross-sectional view of the packaging frame area 1 of FIG. 3 shows that the left-hand area 30 of the longitudinal side part 3 b has the height h₁ which is slightly less than twice the height h₂ in the right-hand area of the longitudinal side part 3 a. Each area extends in the longitudinal direction approximately over half the length, such that, when they are joined in a reversed and turned fashion (FIG. 5), an inner hollow space is obtained that is substantially closed along its periphery and has a height h₂-h₁ to receive an object 2. The opposite longitudinal side part 3 a is correspondingly formed. The two front side parts 4 a and 4 b are also analogously formed (see, in particular, FIG. 1).

A packaging frame part 1 moreover comprises pressure fingers 11, 12, 13, 14, which are formed in the vicinity of the connecting areas 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d on the front side parts 4 a, 4 b thereof (shown in the figures). Each pressure finger, e.g. 11, extends with its lower side from the forming location 15 in a downward direction and merges into a supporting foot 16 (shown in FIG. 3). It extends from the base 16′ in an upward direction to the outer end 17 of the pressure foot 11. The upper edge 17′ slightly projects at the upper side with respect to the surface 18 of the right-hand part of the longitudinal side 3 b, which has the height h₂, i.e. it is formed to protrude upwardly/inwardly, but can be elastically bent back by an object 2 until the edge 17′ lies in the plane of the surface 18, such that the pressure finger then exerts a certain pressure on the associated surface of the object 2 in a shock-absorbing and resilient fashion. The base 16′ of the supporting foot 16 has a smaller separation from the forming location 15 in the horizontal direction compared to the outer end 17 of the pressure finger 11. For this reason, the height change of the outer end 17 resulting from pressure exerted by the object, only causes a considerably smaller height change of the base 16′ of the supporting foot 16. This produces an elastic pressing force with damping action for shocks etc. even in a perpendicular direction with respect to the large surfaces of the object 2.

The packaging part pieces 1 also have supporting feet 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 20 d at the corners of the frame, and further supporting feet 20 e, 20 f in the center of the longitudinal side parts (compare also FIG. 1).

FIG. 7 shows accommodation of a packaging 10 in a covering box 50 in such a fashion that a separate container 51 for connecting cables etc. (see also FIG. 6) can also be accommodated, which abuts the front side of the packaging frame 10. 

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A packaging for a flat cuboid object, a laptop, or a notebook, the packaging comprising: a first member having two longitudinal side parts and two front side parts, joined together to form a resilient frame notched towards an inside thereof, said first member also having pressure fingers disposed on said longitudinal side parts and/or on said front side parts; and a second member which is substantially identical to said first member, wherein said first and said second members are structured and dimensioned for mutual assembly by turning them with respect to each other through 180°, both about a vertical as well as a horizontal axis, thereby forming a casing which is suited to accommodate and surround the object along all four sides thereof, the casing thereby exerting pressure in a resilient and shock-absorbing fashion on one and/or both of two-sided large surfaces-of the object when the object is supported on contact surfaces of said first and said second members.
 7. The packaging of claim 6, wherein said resilient frame is formed like a hinge at connecting areas of said longitudinal side parts and also of said front side parts.
 8. The packaging of claim 6, wherein said hinge is formed by slots which extend from an interior of said frame.
 9. The packaging of claim 6, wherein said frame is made from polypropylene.
 10. The packaging of claim 6, wherein half of said longitudinal side parts and half of said front side parts have a first height and other halves have a second height which is larger than said first height. 